Osseous resective surgery with and without fibre retention technique in the treatment of shallow intrabony defects: a split‐mouth randomized clinical trial

Aim The aim of this split‐mouth clinical trial was to compare the effectiveness of Apically Positioned Flap with Fibre Retention Osseous Resective Surgery (FibRe ORS ) or Osseous Resective Surgery ( ORS ) in the treatment of periodontal pockets associated with intrabony defects ≤3 mm at posterior natural teeth. Materials and Methods Twenty‐six posterior sextants requiring osseous resective surgery were selected in 13 chronic periodontitis patients: 13 sextants were randomly assigned to ORS and 13 to FibRe ORS . Clinical evaluation of probing depth ( PD ), gingival recession and clinical attachment level was performed at baseline, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Periapical radiographs were taken prior and after surgical treatment, at 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐up. Results Ostectomy amounted to 1.0 ± 0.3 mm in the ORS group and to 0.4 ± 0.2 mm in the FibRe ORS group. At 12‐month examination PD changes did not significantly differ between the experimental groups. ORS group showed significantly ( p  < 0.001) greater clinical attachment loss (2.2 ± 1.0 mm versus 1.0 ± 0.6 mm), radiographic bone resorption (0.43 ± 0.08 mm versus 0.13 ± 0.09 mm) and post‐operative patient discomfort compared to FibRe ORS . Conclusion FibRe ORS resulted in similar PD reduction, but less ostectomy, clinical attachment loss and patient morbidity compared to ORS .